QE2 to make historic 40th anniversary visit

THE world’s most famous ship will make a historic visit to Greenock on 20 September — exactly 40 years to the day after she was launched at Clydebank.

This story appeared in the Greenock Telegraph on Wed, 10 Jan, 2007

The QE2’s visit on 20 September is one of only five stops during her anniversary cruise and is expected to attract thousands of onlookers, boosting tourism.

She was last in Inverclyde in 1999, and her connection to the Clyde means she has a lot of fans in the west of Scotland.

Provost Ciano Rebecchi hailed the ship’s visit as a boost for Inverclyde. He said: “I think it is really fantastic. She is one of the finest liners going.

“I remember the last time she came and people flocked from Glasgow to see her — and that was when she was in the dry dock. I think they will be lining up on the Esplanade to see her.

“There will be people who have been on the ship and younger people who have never seen a liner like her before.

“These ships are custom-built now, but she has got such class. I am certainly looking forward to her coming and her arrival in her 40th anniversary year is significant as well. It is great that they have chosen to stop here.”

More than 23,000 people will also come to Greenock on the 25 cruise ships confirmed between April and October.

Favourites including the Black Prince, Van Gogh and giant liner the Grand Princess will all be stopping by this year.